as we become (2026)

for piano, low voice, violin, viola, cello, double bass

Commissioned by/ Premiere:

Commissioned by ChamberQUEER.

Premiered on June 7th, 2026, at MITU580 in Brooklyn, NY

Duration:

9 minutes

Program Note:

When ChamberQUEER invited me to create a piece centered on the theme of climate, I knew I wanted to draw from the brilliant ideas of Robin Wall Kimmerer. Prior to this commission, I participated in Gabriela Lena Frank’s Composing Earth fellowship, which was essentially a composers study group where we explored climate issues through literature and documentaries—including Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass and The Serviceberry. 

One of the main points of Kimmerer's work is reciprocity. She encourages us to engage with nature as a gift—something to honor, take from, but care for in return. I was deeply inspired by this sensitive sentiment and Kimmerer’s poetic language. As I reflect on the urgency of the climate crisis, I realize humanity needs to entirely rethink our relationship with our surroundings. This requires a deep reverence and empathy widely discussed in indigenous methodologies, yet still misunderstood in our society. 

With my piece, I invite both performers and listeners to simply listen and notice. The work is intentionally slow and permeating. Its compositional behavior is built around relationality, collective improvisation, and dialogue, within an emotionally fragile, vulnerable, and solemn framework. Through the act of both playing and listening, I hope my piece inspires all to listen more deeply and cultivate empathy and reverence for others and our surrounding world.